MONOECIA POLYANDRIA 531 



•r slightly acuminate, mostly somewhat hastate at base, with the lobes obtuse 

 (occasionally the leaves oblong, and not sagittate at base) ; petiole* 9 to 15 inches 

 long, chanelled and sheathing below. Scapes numerous from the root, 9 to 18 

 inches high ; spathe 2 to 3 inches long, green, closely convolute (at first subcyl- 

 IndriCi finally ovoid-oblong), acuminate, curved, the margin somewhat undulate ; 

 tpadix nearly as long as the spathe, tapering to a point, and covered with flowers. 

 Berries in an ovoid-oblmg cluster round the base of the spadix, 1-seeded, Ton: 

 Beck, many-seeded, Null. Ell. 



ffab. Bogs, and miry places; Wynn's meadows: rare. Fl. June— July. Fr. 



Obs. This was collected in the above locality, in 1834, by Mr. Joshua Hooprs. 

 Though frequent along tide water, it is very rare in this County. I have not had 

 an opportunity to see the mature fruit. It is the only known species of the genus. 



428. QUERCUS. /,, jfatt, G en. 751. 



[Celtic, Quer, handsome, or excellent, and Cuez, a tree ; on account of its value.] 



Stamixatk Fl. in loose ^merits. Perianth single, mostly 5-clcffc. 

 Stamens 4 or 5 to 10. Pistillate Fl. Involucre of numerous 

 scales, united into a cup. Perianth single, closely investing the 

 ovary, 6-toothed. Ovary 3-cclled, 2 of them abortive; style 1 ; stigma* 

 3. Nut (or Jcorn) 1 -celled, 1-seeded, coated by the enlarged persis- 

 tent perianth, and seated in the cup-shaped involucre. 



Trees, or rarely shrubs: leaves alternate, stipular, sinuately lotted, coarsely 

 dentate, or entire, deciduous, or sempcrvirent; ameuts axillary, filiform, |>endu- 

 loui, with the flowers distinct. Nat. Ord 82. Litull. Cupuliferjs. 



§ 1. Fructification biennial; fruit sub sessile. 

 Leaves sinuate-lobe d ; lobes setaceously mucronate. 



1. Q. tixctorta, Bartr. Leaves obovate-oblong, sinuate-lobed, pu- 

 bescent beneath ; cup turbinate ; nut ovoid. Bech, Bot. p. 328. Icok, 

 Mx.f. Sylva, 1. tab. 24 {fruit, tab. 25.). 

 Q. nigra. Marsh. Jirbnst. p. 120. Not of Mx. mild. &c. 

 DrKu's Qcercus. Vulgo— Black Oak. Quercitron. 



Stem 60 to 80 or 90 feet high, and 2 to 3 or 4 feet in diameter, with large spread- 

 ing branches above,— the bark rough and blackish. Leaves 5 to 8 inches long, 

 and 3 to 6 inches wide, obovate in their outline, more or less deeply sinuate- 

 lobed, with the lobes setaceously mucronate, the base obtuse, or sometimes cune- 

 ately tapering, smoothish above, clothed beneath with short stellate or fasciculate 

 hair*, winch present a pulverulent appearance ;— when young, densely pubescent 

 oaboth sides,-finally smooth on both sides, except in the axils of the nerves 

 beneath; petioles 1 to 2 inches long; stipules subulate-filiform, pubescent, cadu* 

 ejus. Slaminate flowers in slender filiform pubescent aments. Acorn rather 

 small, ovoid, sitting in the thick scaly cup-like involucre^ which is taporing at 

 bus. 



Hub. Rich upland woods : common. Fl. May. FY. October. 



Obs. There is apparently a variety of this, on our sterile Mlca-slate hills, of 

 smaller scrubby growth, but with the leaves much larger, and less deeply lobed 

 (approaching, somewhat, that of Q. nigra, or black Jack). The wood of this species 

 is not very durabU,-nor is it much esteemed for fuel,— yet in consequence of its 

 abundance, it is extensively used for fencing, fire-wood, and shingles. The bark 

 is an article of commerce,-used in dying yellow ; and is exported in large quan- 

 tities, under the name of Quercitron. 



